Over 90 per cent of older people don't want to live with their children

IT MAY come as a surprise to some but 94 per cent of older people do not want to go and live with their children. In fact, most over-70s want to continue living an independent life for as long as possible and to have access to trained carers should they ever need them.

That will be a relief to the 66 per cent of Brits who worry about being responsible for looking after older relatives and the 50 per cent of us who feel guilty about the support we have been able to give them.

The figures come from a study by Anchor, a specialist in retirement developments, which found 77 per cent of over-70s worried about being a burden on their family and 66 per cent preferred the specialist care option.

These include people like 88-year-old Joy Allerston, who moved into retirement housing at Anchor's Keble Court in 2017.

"There are no guarantees in life and we have no idea what care we may need," she says. "My children have their own lives and families and, while I'm lucky not to need care at the moment, it would be really unfair to expect them to look after me, too. I'd hate to think I was ever a burden to them."

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The one and two-bedroom apartments are all fitted with top of the range kitchen

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77 per cent of over-70s worried about being a burden on their family

It wasn't easy to speak about moving into retirement housing but it's important not to sweep chats about care under the rug

Joy Allerston

Joy was attracted to Keble Court, near Church Crookham on the outskirts of Fleet in Hampshire, by the sense of community and wanted to be able to make her own decisions about downsizing.

"It wasn't easy to speak about moving into retirement housing but it's important not to sweep chats about care under the rug, so no one is left feeling unnecessarily guilty or troubled," she explains.

Keble Court is just one of Anchor's recently built retirement villages, with on-site facilities including an Owners lounge, café, and hair and beauty salon.

The one and two-bedroom apartments are all fitted with top of the range kitchen and bathroom equipment and have a 24/7 emergency call system. One-bedroom flats are still available from £255,000 and twobedroom apartments from £341,000 (01252 627562; anchor.org.uk).

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Joy Allerston was keen not to be a burden to her family

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Most over-70s want to continue living an independent life for as long as possible

Meanwhile at Anchor's Bishopstoke Park a second phase of 73 one and two-bedroom apartments is now available.

Bishopstoke Park's facilities include an AA Rosette award-winning restaurant in the development's 19th-century period centerpiece - The Mount - as well as a swimming pool, spa and wellness centre.

One-bedroom apartments with integrated kitchen appliances and luxury shower rooms are for sale from £345,000 (0808 102 4177; anchor.org.uk) and professional domiciliary care is available if needed, with a 48-room care home in the grounds.

Chief Executive of Anchor, Jane Ashcroft CBE, says: "The reality of demographic change is that more older people have complex needs requiring specialist care. And it's this specialist care which can only be provided by staff who have received extensive training - as in our care homes."

Ashcroft points out that not everyone has children to help them as they age and says: "We already see a nation feeling immense guilt.

"That will increase unless we start to reflect the realities of ageing in the 21st century.

"We owe it to ourselves and each other to have open and honest conversations with loved ones about the care and support we will want."